Do you speak English fluently?
Georgia
Dec 27, 2018·4 min read
St. Stephens Basilica
Budapest, Hungary.
We’ve had fun over these last few weeks trying to figure out how to ask the most basic of questions, “Do you speak English” which at face value doesn’t sound overly difficult. You would be mistaken. Our brains are like sieves and as quick as I pour the “Sprechen Sie Englisch?”, “mluvíš anglicky” and “beszélsz angolul” in, it falls right back out. Personally, I blame the internet.
As you start getting hit with travel fatigue and a loss of direction on big trips like these, there are some cities which pull you right back into the fray and make you realise how beautiful Europe during Christmas can be. Budapest certainly falls into this category and after almost two months, two continents and nine countries deep we needed it. Learn this: you can learn anything105
Parliament building
Our first few days saw us checking out the usual city landmarks of castles, churches and Christmas markets and they certainly didn’t disappoint in any way. The awe-inspiring Buda Castle in the aptly named Castle district where we visited an underground labyrinth (used as a war shelter, jail and even linked to Dracula!) was amazing. The stunning St Stephens Basilica and Fishermans Bastion; everywhere you look there is something gorgeous and jaw-dropping.
Budapest’s many landmarks
The highlight of this city was definitely the natural hot spring baths of Széchenyi, opened in 1913 and looking the part. Three huge outdoor pools (25°C–35°C) and a multitude of indoor pools, spas and steaming hot saunas. The snow falling all around and -4°C at arrival made it even more special. I highly recommend Budapest to anyone and everyone.
Széchenyi Baths
Christmas day was spent in Krakow, Poland and was indeed a white one. I will say it was a quiet few days for us as George came down with a nasty bout of the flu. I took to the streets myself and kept the step counter going by walking the wet and snowy alleys and side paths. Up to Wawel castle, through the Jewish quarter and around Old town.
Wawel Castle and the dragons den.
While in Krakow we visited the Auschwitz concentration camp for the day. It sits about 60kms out of Krakow, it covers a massive area, contains multiple different camps and is about as sombre as you can imagine. It didn’t feel right to take a heap of photos or selfies out of consideration for every one that passed through this place so I’ve only included a couple of the complex.
Auschwitz camp
Next stop is Warsaw and then the Baltic states for New Year’s Eve. Bring it on.
Learn more you can learn anything105
Gary.
